One day we will be able to simply think about what we want our Android phones to do, and our phones will do it. Vlingo for Android brings us a little closer to that goal by providing full voice controls for the Android system for 2.0+ users. Though the newer Android versions offer stock voice search and text input, Vlingo takes it one step further by allowing users to launch applications, update their twitter status, and call, email, or text anyone in your contact list. In addition, Vlingo Safe Reader will read incoming text messages and emails to you so that you don’t have to fumble around with your phone while on the go.

Where Vlingo really shines is in the homescreen widget. Users can put the widget on their homescreen, touch the tap and speak button, and command your android phone to do as you please. The commands themselves are basic and intuitive, and include all of the following commands (the action/command items are in italics).

Text Message: Text Katie Message Are you free tonight for dinner?

Email:Email Han Subject Tonight Message Running a bit late.

Voice Dial: Call Charlie mobile

Search: Search Bonobo Apes

Open Apps:Open Alarm clock

Maps:Find coffee shops in Cambridge

Twitter:Twitter really need a coffee right now

Overall, Vlingo handles these commands fairly well with a few exceptions. My wife has a unique name. At first, when I tried to use the command “email Jenica subject test message hello,” it just would not find my wife’s contact information. Vlingo promises to get better as time goes on, so I tried this again today and it successfully found her this time around.

Launching applications was the only other real hit or miss for me. Sure it launched all of the stock apps without a hitch, but when I tried to launch a soundboard to taunt my co-worker, it crapped out and did a google search for the soundboard. The main improvement I’d like to see in Vlingo is this tighter integration with 3rd party apps. The ability to use your voice to launch applications is where Vlingo really sets itself apart and I think it will be a must have application once this feature is improved.

Vlingo currently is available on the Android market for devices running Android 2.0 or higher, but it’s a fairly expensive app that will set you back $9.99, and even that seems to be a discount. The press release (dated May 25, 2010) states that the $9.99 price is for a limited time only, so expect this number to increase in coming weeks.

Once the integration with 3rd party applications is a little better, I do think that Vlingo could justify the high price, but I also fear that this will become part of the stock Android system in future releases and it will become a “wasted purchase.” I’d like to see a dumbed down free version of the application, or at least a 14 day free trial so users can try before they buy. Vlingo themselves offer a free lite version of their application for Blackberry, but no word on whether this will also come to Android.

Pros

Full voice control over your Android device. Vast improvement over the stock voice text/search app in 2.0+ Android versions.

Voice controls are simple/easy to understand, and are intuitive.

Convenient widget

Cons

Ability to launch 3rd party applications could use some improvements.

Comes with a hefty $10 pricetag with the promise of an increased price if you aren’t an early Vlingo adopter.

Final Verdict: Before buying Vlingo, I strongly encourage you to weigh the pros and cons of making the $10 plunge. This app has the potential to be worth the $10 price, but I can easily see these features being incorporated into future Android releases.

For more information on Vlingo for Android, check out the following video, or head over to the Vlingo website.

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GIVEAWAY

And now for some great news: we were given 20 VIP codes for free access to the Vlingo application. As usual, we’re passing these codes onto 20 lucky Android and Me readers. Want to enter the giveaway? Leave a comment with your email address (in the email field) below before 8pm Central Time on Sunday, 6/20/2010. We will randomly select 20 of you to receive Vlingo for absolutely free. Sometime on Sunday 6/20 or Monday 6/21, winners will receive an email with instructions on how to redeem the VIP code.

Most Tweeted This Week

Sounds promising…what i like is the ability to use sms to have a ‘voice’ conversation. this shows up as a thread for use later..nice and cool…
i wish some co. will invent lipstick that will apply itself with a voice command…the sight of some women applying makeup while driving with elbows scares the crap outta me :)

http://Website cg

sounds really useful … and fun at the low low price of free

http://Website Emil

I’m in too.

I’m really curious how well it handles english spoken by non-english speaker people (like me :P)

http://Website Nidish Vashistha

very cool app for Android.. i will like to try on my phone!

http://Website Mike Eichbrecht

I have to wonder if its their own technology or they are licensing Nuance or Svox… either way it is a cool way to update a handset through the market.

http://Website Sergey

I would like to try it too ;)

http://Website Storm

Wow this would be awesome for car use, do want

http://Website Kenji O.

Nice! Great contest. :)

http://Website Mocha K

Just what i wanted!

http://Website Grimkor

Wonder how in-depth they could get the commands in the future, sounds promising though!

http://Website S Chapman

Can’t wait to try this app on my EVO

http://Website Feech

I think a free trial would be great, but you’re right I think this App may be wasted once Android starts to add these features in fact it does a pretty good job now with a lot of what this App does

http://Website Andre

Vingo!!! lol :]

jakmayhopher

I just hope that the mT3g does get uptaed to 2.2 or 2.1 so I can use this! cause it would be so much nicer while im driving!

Zahmed

Hopefully I got a chance =]

http://Website John bemis

I’m in looks like to could be cool.

Alan Reboli

Sounds cool!

http://Website Hightower

Lets Vlingo baby!

http://Website Beo

Can Vlingo be trained to accommodate different accents?

http://Website Zac

pick me! pick me!

http://Website Chris P-T

Count me in!

http://FeelingLucky TimW

I am feeling lucky… I need a WIN!!!!!

http://Website Scotty

I’ll take one!!

http://tmjphotos.net Torrey J

I want to win.. i tried the beta, wasnt working out well then, but i would love to have the finished product! :-D

http://Website chris b

like to give it a whirl, hmm for free and make my other friends here in the U.K. green with envy more so the ones with iphones LMAO :)

http://Vlingo Kam

Free Vlingo please!!

http://Website Jimmy D

This looks like an awesome app, would be great to get it for free

http://www.twitter.com/dalex7777 dalex7777

Yah, I would like Vlingo.

Thanks!

http://Website Amberelicious

I am a former Crackberry user and abuser and I use to use this “free” app all the time. I loved it, hope I can win it here. The speak to text speech is VERY accurate too! Now that I am an Android user Vlingo would make this phone even better.

http://Website Manuel

Incredible…..I’m mute, I’m wordless

joel.scott

Count me in! :)

http://Website Jaime Barillas

Totally want Vlingo.

http://Website Dave

Droid me up, Scotty!!

http://Website Albert

Ha.

http://Website Futureboy

Been waiting for this app for a while now. Sign me up for the giveaway! Thanks!

http://Website Joline

I have Fibromyalgia and any device including my cell phone using voice commands is a god send, pushing less buttons the better…. Thank You

http://Website Jeff

Free is good

http://Website Jim

Sounds cool, I want in

http://Website Lars

Here it is, I hope I get one :D good luck everyone.

http://Website J

I was thinking about buying this but if I could win it instead that would be awesome!

http://Website Ramble

Would love to try this out!

http://Website Christian

I could really use this

http://Website Brad Allen

This would be a wonderful Father’s day gift….hint,hint…….

http://Website Enickel

I Want my Vlingo \o/

http://Website Sylvia

I just bought a dashboard mount for my new HTC Evo and was on the hunt for a better voice dialing app when I found your great review. If the video is any indication, I think I’ve found my app. Hope I get picked for one of the licenses!

http://Website Bob Rosette

Would really like to have this app as I drive a lot and in my state talking or texting while driving is not legal.

http://Website neal

Hope this is as good as dragon diction..count me in.

tmorden

I enjoyed using Vlingo in the past with a Blackberry. I’d be interested to see how the Android version compares.

http://Website Matt

This would be a nice addition to my 2 Evo’s.

http://Website Nidia

I am part of the Oprah no phone zone. This is an app that helps me continue my pledge.

http://Website andy c

gimme gimme gimme

http://Website Matt

Used this for BB, and it was great. Would love to get a copy..

http://Website Mung

me too :)

http://Website Jamal

Just looked for it in the market and it didn’t show up. Is it because I’m on the manually updated Froyo for the Nexus One where some of the apps doesn’t show? Also not seeing my Homerun Battle 3d app.

http://Website Wayne

in for 1

stalker

I am very excited about this app.

http://Website alex

me too

http://Website Evan

Can I have one?

http://adomanico01.blogspot.com/ Anthony Domanico

All of the winners have been contacted! Thanks all for the overwhelming participation. As we get these kinds of giveaways from companies, we will pass them along to you!

stalker

Thank You Anthony. BTW I wasn’t lucky at this time.

http://Website JoeDirt2217

Hope to win a free copy!!! Had this for my BB, great app.

http://Website Patrick “The Hatrick”

I’ve used this on my blackberry storm, and paid $17 for it. Now I need it for my NEW Droid X.

Pro:
- Acurate voice to text, as long as you don’t has a lisp problem or other speech impediments.
- Ability to post to social networks
- Constant improvement updates

Cons:
- Overpriced since you have to buy major updates every 4-6moths, or keep using it without newer features.

eddieonofre

Vlingo now is freeee!!!!!!

http://www.techhampton.com mart

I am moving to Android August 31st with the Samsung GalaxyS on Sprint. I have had every iteration of iPhone since launch but, incredibly, it’s AT&T service and the outrageous number of dropped calls that have forced my hand. I have some reservations – I really hope the Samsung cuts the mustard and Sprint coverage doesn’t drop kick another client in the middle of a support session. Finally, I will be starting my Andriod adventure at 2.2 and this app looks like it’s WAY better than Voice Control..

http://Website sunil sapra

i would love to have the full upgraded version of vlingo, im using the free version right now, its such a huge help for me to listen to messages, while driving,im on the road a lot. Major and best part for me is also listening messages without having to grab your phone each time it rings, specially when im sleeping i have odd hours of work, and have to sleep during the day due to working both morning and evening shifts; but people working during the day call inthe day when im trying to catch up on a 2-hr nap; its been such a saaviour fo rme. now the upgraded version will make my life somuch easier if i can speak to reply to messages while driving rather than texting on my BB while driving all the time, thats very risky too, but being a contractor type of business, if i dont respond instantly-i would lose business. so i hope my prayers are answered.thanks a ton in anticipation

Tony

I tried Vlingo (Oct 2011) and I don’t think it’s still entirely hands free as you still have to “touch the tap and speak button”. With a Bluetooth headset, it’s not entirely handsfree either as my tests required some interaction with the phone.

In provinces (and I imagine US states) with cell phone bans you can have one button press to answer calls but that’s it. No fiddling with the phone to make calls. Besides it’s still dangerous (and attracts attention) to look down to touch your phone. It still takes a few seconds to find and touch the icon on the screen.

The ideal operation is eyes never leaving the road, press bluetooth headset and speak everything plus get confirmation of destination before the number is dialed.